Pre-flood Preparations: Bracing for a Calamity

Natural calamities like floods and typhoons are natural occurrences – we can't prevent them – but we can surely brace ourselves and do our best to in order to minimize the costs of water damage repair and other flood restoration processes. In order to do fully do so, you need to be able to take proactive measures that will make moving on from the tragedy easier. This includes both stocking up on supplies and other preventive measures. Here are some of the ways on how to:

First off, check, avail and be informed

In order to prepare yourself and your family, you have to be informed of some measures that will increase your chances of getting out unscathed. Here are the things you should know about:

• First off, if you are planning to relocate, be sure to check if the area you plan to live in is passed by floods every now and then. With that said, check the area's history, particularly on how they dealt with the disaster. 

• If you do not have insurance, immediately avail one considering the fact that you will certainly need money for the reparation costs.

• Be informed about the area's countermeasures against the flood. Pay attention to the sewage and drainage systems, as well as the landslide prone areas, streams, rivers and the places you can evacuate to after the dust settles.

Stock up

Once a couple of storm signals are up, be sure to stock up (NOT HOARD) on things that will help you survive the ordeal (food and water) as well as making the process of water damage repair and flood restoration easy. Here are some of the aspects you need to do:

• Stock up food that will last for weeks, possibly months. Non-perishable and foods that do not rot are highly recommended. Cereals (without the milk), canned meat (tuna, corned beef and spam), bottled water and potato chips are highly recommended. Be sure to store them in an airtight container to avoid contamination.

• Store medicines especially painkillers and antibiotics on a secure location (again, on an airtight container). Make sure that they are in dry tablet or capsule form.

• Batteries, flashlights and equipment like communication devices. Charge up your smart phones and laptops in order to be able to communicate with the proper authorities. If cellphone services are out, prepare a short-wave radio.

• Safeguard your cleaning materials. This includes bleach, dustpans and shovels.

Safety measures

Though flood cleanup and water damage repair safety has been discussed a couple of times in this blog, it is important to take note of them over and over again.

• Wear the proper gear that can protect you from the flood waters and the debris that come with it. 

• Never ever light up anything that can cause a spark. This includes candles and cigarettes, Doing so may cause open gas valves to explode, causing large structural damage and fatalities.

• In the advent of the storm, be sure to board up the basement, to ensure that only flood waters and not other debris (like dead carcasses). Also reinforce and board up the doors and windows to prevent glass from shattering. However, if you can evacuate ahead of time, the better.